Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  leased car - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
  By zvi - October 3 - 2:00 am

  on the whole it has been a good car. had problems with the brakes- replace pads and rotors at about the 25000 mile mark.

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  GREAT TRUCK! - 2001 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  By BLACKDOG - October 3 - 2:00 am

  I BOUGHT USED WITH 15K ON THE CLOCK. NO PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR A TICKING NOISE ON ACCELERATION, NOT COLD START KNOCK SOME TALK ABOUT. THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE NOISE BY REPLACING SENSORS BUT NO LUCK. GM TOLD ME IT IS A NORMAL NOISE DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE PISTONS WHICH HAVE A SHORT SKIRT TO HAVE LESS MASS THEREFORE BETTER GAS MILEAGE. THEY TOLD MR TO PUT MY MIND AT EASE, THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN EXTENDED 6 YR/100K WARRANTY ON THE ENTIRE ENGINE. I HAVE THIS IN WRITING PLUS IT IS TRANSFERRABLE. I MUST SAY THE TICK NOISE DOES NOT AFFECT ANYTHING, AT LEAST NOW. i HAVE 27K ON IT NOW.

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  BEST IVE EVER OWNED - 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By JOHNNY10 - October 3 - 2:00 am

  I CANT TELL YALL HOW HAPPY I AM WITH THIS TRUCK WOW..........

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  Trailblazer could use improvement - 2003 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Skinyard - October 3 - 2:00 am

  I have three kids and it is a tight fit with all of them in the 2nd row. It is difficult getting the kids in and out of the 3rd row seat. The rear seat DVD entertainment system is not the best. We constantly get a "Disc format error" or "Disc play error" and have found the DVD system is quite touchy. The sound for the DVD only comes through the wireless headphones. It would have been nice if the sound came through the speakers as well. It also would be nice to be able to control the DVD from the front seat. Gas mileage is okay (14 mpg). The third row seat is also a bit cumbersome.

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  Dont Buy An Uplander - Big Mistake - 2008 Chevrolet Uplander
  By Bill - October 2 - 10:39 pm

  To start with..The interior design is the worst ever.The seats in the second row are very poorly designed,you cannot recline fully because the seats hit against the interior side walls,they are too narrow and uncomfortable and lack knee space,they should also have been made to swivel.The side sliding doors should have sliding windows on them,not fixed windows.The cruise control is totally in the wrong location, and when in use is not smooth at all.The cigarette lighter or auxiliary outlet is in a very dumb and dangerous location (almost on the floor)makes it nearly impossible to use.The rear door is dangerous when opening,it will slam you in the face if you are not careful.

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  Great vehicle overall...so far - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By 08malibu - October 2 - 8:32 pm

  Got the LT2 with 6 cylinder/6A about a week ago so far a great vehicle. 500 miles since having it. A lot of car for the money. Hopefully will be reliable in the future. Great looks, nice interior, amb lighting is nice touch at night, seats could use more side support, trunk is huge but opening is way to small...cant fit double stroller into trunk, radio could use more power. OnStar is OK, engine smooth. 6A transmission jumpy in stop and go Boston traffic. Heated seats are great but buttons hard to find, remote start nice feature, great looking car, love the adjustable pedals for wife, plenty of room in front for myself, 64, 220lbs, back seat plenty of room for 2 car seats. Time will tell.

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  Bang for your buck - 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
  By Colleen - October 2 - 3:03 pm

  Wed been thinking of getting a family-friendly sedan, and when our tiny convertible was totalled in an accident, we settled on the base 4-cyl 2008 Malibu. The pick-up in the Malibu is not that great (but keep in mind, we got the 4-cyl!), but the fuel economy more than makes up for it. Weve been averaging over 30 mpg, combined highway and city (about 50/50), and we easily get 35 mpg on the highway. The car is fairly comfortable. Its not the sexiest car in the world, but for the money, its a bargain. I would definitely buy another.

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  Freds 07 Tahoe LTZ - 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By Fred Vasquez - October 2 - 1:33 pm

  The 2007 Tahoe LTZ is a surprise to just about everyone on the planet. GMC actually got a redesign right! I have yet to find a problem or a reason to complain about anything. From experts the only downside they mention are in reference to the third row seats. Some actually say they are heavy or difficult or cumbersome to remove for added cargo space. This is far from correct. You place your hand on the handle and they roll, Yes roll right out. The rear view camera also must be mentioned.( Its perfect!) I my self cant believe it but this vehicle IS a 10!

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  Save Your Money !! - 2005 Chevrolet TrailBlazer
  By Decisionmaker - October 1 - 9:26 pm

  I wish I had more than 700 characters to describe. Quality is less than desirable, very cheap interior, many factory screws missing. Fuel economy is a joke along with the electrical system. If considering this vehicle there is a reason for the 36K mile warranty, dont go past it. Many small issues and if your looking for a toss away vehicle you have made the correct choice. Just some advice for inclement zones, the trailblazer for a 4x4 is horrible in the snow/ice and even more dangerous on wet roads. I purchased new and have had all warranty work done and it is still a money hog with costly repairs. Gee, I wonder why GM is in trouble with TRUCK and SUV sales.Sorry this is my last GM product.

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  Great Car for the Money - 2007 Chevrolet Impala
  By Tony - October 1 - 9:05 pm

  This car is a great value. 300 Hp and styling that will not get the attention of local law enforcement. I have been very pleased with this vehicle. It is true that the car has torque steer, but I have found that you get used to it very quickly. When I was looking for a vehicle I needed 5 things, under 20k, front wheel drive, auto, 4 doors and 300+ hp. There is no other vehicle that can match thoese requirements.